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1 1 TOTAL CONSECRATION Grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus through learning about Marian Spirituality. This is a starting point for St. Louis de Montfort s preparation for TOTAL CONSECRATION to Our Lady. Copyright 2013/2016 Augustine Institute. All rights reserved. Review the entire lesson plan in advance so you are prepared to lead and discuss comfortably. Adjust the suggested time allotments as minutesCONNECTC onsider how context affects our perception of good and bad; then open in prayer. 65 minutesDISCUSSD iscuss Marian CONSECRATION and do the first day s preparation minutesCOMMITAsk participants to commit to doing the daily preparation for TOTAL CONSECRATION ; close by praying a decade of the rosary.

2 Copies of St. Louis de Montfort s preparation for TOTAL CONSECRATION to Our Lady for every member of the group; are available at Participant Sheets Pens or pencils Information about St. Louis de Montfort (see Tips) Rosaries (for the Closing Prayer) Any heavy chain The Act of TOTAL CONSECRATION should normally be done on a Marian Feast Day, although this is not required (a Sunday would be a sufficient). Your discipleship group may wish to begin the journey to TOTAL CONSECRATION 33 days in advance. Make a plan using the suggested timeline inside cover of the book preparation for TOTAL CONSECRATION , or online at: Ask a regular group member to research the life of St.

3 Louis de Montfort in advance and prepare a short, casual presentation (3-5 minutes). In advance of this session, you will need to order preparation for TOTAL CONSECRATION for every member in your group. 2 Discipleship is about more than discussing the faith and participating in a small group. Discipleship requires learning from the example of a rabbi in this case, participants learn from your daily example. It is healthy for your group members to do regular, everyday activities together because they will learn from your example and the example of their peers. As they grow in fellowship and deeper friendship through these activities, they will grow as disciples.

4 ACTIVITYSAY: Today we are going to learn about Marian Spirituality and how to pray to Mary, the Blessed Mother. Our inspiration will be St. Louis de Montfort, who became a popular saint because Pope St. John Paul II had a great devotion to him. St. Louis de Montfort believed that the best way to Jesus was through His Mother. Before we get more into St. Louis de Montfort, let s start with a little exercise. Tell me if you think the following things are good or bad: Read each of the following, one at a time, and pause for responses: - A day off from school - A day off from school because the school burned down - A new puppy - A new puppy that has rabiesCopyright 2013/2016 Augustine Institute.

5 All rights - Free chocolate - Free chocolate that makes you throw up because you have an allergy - An open parking spot - An open parking spot, 3 blocks from your desired destination - A tornado on your wedding day SAY: All of these things are good, but in a certain context they can become bad. Pull out a heavy chain and ask if chains are good or bad. Take a few responses, and then continue. When we see chains, we might think of bondage or slavery. We might think that chains are a bad thing. But St. Louis de Montfort did not see slavery as a bad thing, in a certain context. The way he saw it, it all depended on who was your master. St. Louis de Montfort felt that if Mary the Mother of God was his master, the only place that he could go was to follow her to Jesus.

6 In this way, St. Louis de Montfort wanted to be a slave of Mary. He wanted all of his prayers, good works, and fasting to be directed to her. But why? SAY: As I mentioned, today we ll be diving into Marian CONSECRATION and how it benefits our spiritual lives. Let s open our time in prayer and ask Our Lady to protect and guide our conversation tonight. Begin with the sign of the cross. PRAY: Blessed Mother Mary, we pray that you teach us to know your Son more and help us as we begin our journey to TOTAL CONSECRATION to you. We ask this through your intercession as we pray together, Hail End with the sign of the cross. Then ask someone to read this week s Scripture passage, 1 Kings 2:19-20, from either a Bible or the Participant Sheet, while everyone else follows along.

7 Copyright 2013/2016 Augustine Institute. All rights And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king s mother; and she sat on his right. Then she said, I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me. And the king said to her, Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you. 1 Kings 2:19-20 SAY: That Scripture passage we just read is about how King Solomon treated his mother the Queen Mother. Let s take a few minutes to debrief that passage with these questions: What do you notice about the way King Solomon treats his mother?

8 Why do you think he says he will grant her anything she asks? The way Solomon (an imperfect king) strives to treat his mother is the way Jesus (the perfect King) actually treats His mother. Mary sits at the right hand of Jesus and has inherited His Kingdom. When she asks Him for something, He grants it. St. Louis de Montfort recognizes this, and he decides that if he wants to get close to Jesus, he needs to be close to Jesus mother. Let s take a few minutes to learn about St. Louis de Montfort s life. Ask the person who prepared ahead of time to present about St. Louis de Montfort s life. Alternatively, ask group members to do an online search of St.

9 Louis de Montfort on their phones or on a tablet, if you have one available. Let everyone share findings. St. Louis de Montfort had a deep Marian Spirituality. The heart of his spirituality involved a TOTAL CONSECRATION to Mary. This means that all of his desires, prayers, and merits were given to Mary to perfect and then to present to Jesus. He gave everything to Mary. In a way, one could say that St. Louis de Montfort was a slave to 2013/2016 Augustine Institute. All rights We are going to prepare ourselves for a TOTAL CONSECRATION as well. St. Louis de Montfort wrote a 33-day prayer exercise intended to prepare a person to make a TOTAL CONSECRATION to Mary.

10 We want to become closer to Jesus, and the best way to do that is through His Mother. Distribute the preparation for TOTAL CONSECRATION to Our Lady books. Ask everyone to get into pairs or trios. If you want to learn to grow deeper in a relationship with Jesus, there is no better way than through His Mother. In your pairs, preview your books and discuss these questions, which are on your Participant Sheets: What does it mean to make a TOTAL CONSECRATION to Mary? What kind of commitment is involved, and are you willing to make that commitment? What will be your greatest challenge in making the commitment, and how can your partner support you?